updated 01:31 pm EST, Fri March 7, 2014

High-resolution projector small enough to fit on side of smartphone

Texas Instruments has produced a new chipset that will let smartphone producers offer a higher-resolution projector as part of their devices. The 0.3-inch HD TRP DLP Pico chipset is capable of projecting a 720p video onto a wall, screen or another surface, with the module being small enough to fit into the side or end of a smartphone or tablet, in a similar way to the Samsung Galaxy Beam.

The latest iteration of TI's technology offers 30 percent higher efficiency and double the brightness of its earlier version, reportsAndroid Authority, while also using 50 percent less power and maintaining a refresh rate of 120Hz. The earlier Galaxy Beam, which used a similar technology, offered a resolution of 640x360, and while it was able to offer a brightness of 15 lumens and a 50-inch projection, this was found to heavily draw on power.

Samsung Galaxy Beam

In theory, smartphone and tablet manufacturers may look to the chip to add something different to their devices, but TI also points to other uses. The "wearable (near eye) display" suggestion could lead to it being used by companies producing smart headsets, such as the Google Glass, while uses for digital signage and interactive displays are also touted.